Megapiranha
Extinct genus of fishes / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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For the 2010 film, see Mega Piranha.
Megapiranha is an extinct serrasalmid characin fish from the Late Miocene (8–10 million years ago) Ituzaingó Formation of Argentina, described in 2009.[1] The type species is M. paranensis.[2] It is thought to have been about 71 centimetres (28 in) in length and 10 kilograms (22 lb) in weight.[3] The holotype consists only of premaxillae and a zigzag tooth row; the rest of its body is unknown.[4] This dentition is reminiscent of both the double-row seen in pacus, and the single row seen in the teeth of modern piranhas, suggesting that M. paranensis is a transitional form. Its bite force is estimated between 1,240–4,749 N (279–1,068 lbf).[3]
Quick Facts Scientific classification, Binomial name ...
Megapiranha | |
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Comparison of M. paranensis and the tambaqui | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Characiformes |
Family: | Serrasalmidae |
Genus: | †Megapiranha Cione et al. 2009 |
Species: | †M. paranensis |
Binomial name | |
†Megapiranha paranensis Cione et al. 2009 | |
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